Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230051
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
While wrestling as a youth in North Carolina, Steven Osborne faced constant comparisons to Danny, who once pinned 40 consecutive opponents and currently wrestles at Campbell University. This past weekend Steven, a Pulaski County senior, took a giant step out of the shadow and into the spotlight.
Wrestling at 189 pounds, Steven Osborne captured the Roanoke Valley District title, taking just 2:10 out of 12 minutes to pin his opponents.
Also tasting victory was Steven's younger brother, J.R., a sophomore who captured the title in the 171-pound class. Steven Osborne's victory ended three years of frustration in which he had finished second, third and fourth in the district but had never captured the crown.
"There is a sense of fulfillment to finally win," he said recently. "I knew I could win if I wrestled up to my potential. Whether I was actually going to do it was another story."
Osborne began working toward this victory in earnest a year ago.
"At the end of last season he started dedicating himself. He didn't just do what I asked; he did more to really push himself," said Pulaski coach Fred Blevins. "J.R. is more gifted athletically, but Steven works a lot harder."
Steven Osborne, who is 24-5 with 19 pins heading into the regional tournament this weekend, is more dominant in the classroom than he is on the mat.
He was recently accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy on the recommendations of Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, and Sen. John Warner, R-Va. To further solidify his spot in Annapolis, Md., he scored 1340 on his Scholastic Aptitude Test, including a near perfect score of 770 on the mathematical portion of the test.
Attending the Naval Academy "has always been in the back of my mind, but in the last few years it became reality," Steven Osborne said. "It is probably the best thing I have ever accomplished."
Now, people are watching to see if J.R. follows his brother's lead.
"I feel like I have two more years to get one up on him," said J.R. Osborne. "Maybe if I work hard I can capture a region and state title."
RADFORD ROLLS: The Bobcats enter this weekend's regional competition with a prodigious collection of young talent, led by freshman Ryan Hall.
In his first year of varsity competition Hall, who wrestles at 103 pounds, has amassed a record of 21-1 and picked up his first Three Rivers District crown.
"He is a very knowledgeable wrestler, with a good repertoire of moves," said Radford coach Tony DeHart. "He comes from a wrestling family, and his brothers have all won state championships."
Hall is not the only Bobcat underclassman to enjoy success this season. Also capturing district titles were sophomores Benjy Fry (119 pounds) and Trevor Owens (130 pounds), freshman Brian Hudson (125 pounds) and junior Stephen Murphy (112 pounds). The only Radford senior to capture a district crown was Jason Abercrombie (145 pounds).
YOUTH PREVAILS II: After going more than a decade without a New River District wrestling title, Blacksburg didn't seem to be a likely victor this season with only three wrestlers returning who had ever set foot on a mat. After tossing conventional wisdom out the window, the Indians went on to capture their first NRD team title since 1984.
"We were somewhat inconsistent," said Blacksburg coach Lee Worley. "We seemed to be a good tournament wrestling team all year. A lot of guys didn't realize what it would take at the beginning of the year, and that makes it even sweeter."
Justin Whittier (119), John Ohm (140), B.J. Lafon (171), Kip Kenyon (189) and Nathan Cumbee (heavyweight) captured NRD titles. Ohm is the only senior on the Indians squad.
by CNB